Bubble cap



June 12, 1945 c. F. RAMsEYER ETAL 2,378,157

BUBBLE CAP Filed July 30, 1943 @laf-11 threaded into the perforation in the hearth Il. a.; shown. or it Vmay be force-ntted therein. A Each plug I4 is provided with a relatively small uiar ses chamber i9 The sleeve il extends downwardly to engage the hearth II and is provided at its lower portion with a plurality of gas exit slots 2li.

without change in direction.

The gas which passes through the central passage i5 at high velocity lirat implnges against the sages I6 from which it surface of the sleeve I 8. second right a bubble center partition 28 extends from the rishthand end Vot hearth Il but stops short of the lefthand end thereof. leaving ln end passau 2l. Partition 24, like partition 12, extends from the 1eftugh the 22, 2l and 2l stop l0 of the furnace and may be 'ise secured to the upper surface or the hearth il,

Dlscharging into the closed end o! channel 2l ls a supply pipe Il for charging the furnace l0 with the inelydivlded oxides to be reduced Pipe marais? may result from dusting. Peep tubes 41 and Il are Vprovided in the two ends of the furnace for observing the operation thereof.

ln operation the furnace I0 ls supplied with iron ore or other oxide through supply pipe Il,

ring Il on the discharge pipe J8. head of the nely-divided material is between the inlet passage as above The reducing gas. preferably preheated to have in the bed ot from 1100 F. to i) F. the hearth Il, ily reduces the The pressure of 2| may be about thirty pounds per square inch above the internal furnace pressure, although 'begins to dow out of 'in the gas which reduces `so suspended, the spent reducing gas rising to Vthe top o! the bed and low, so that herein, in which the plug 'Ihe gas iiows at high velocity through the passage I and impinges against the plate I1 and then against the sleeve IB as above described, so that the velocity is greatly reduced before the gas passes through the exit slots into the bed of material. Because of the high pressure drop in each oi the passages l5 the volume and velocity of the gas dowing into the bed from each bubble cap is substantially the same. Hence the gas is supplied in a uniform manner to the entire bed of material. The gas is supplied in adequate volume to eiect reduction at the operating temperature and to produce the desired fluidity of the bed. At the beginning of the operation all oi.

the iinely-divided material is located at the leed and of the channel under the feed pipe 3l. The iiuidity imparted thereto by the gas, however, causes it to iiow rapidly along the hearth all between the partitions and to level out until it the discharge pipe 36.

uniform gas distribution from the entire bed if maintained each particle is suspended it while maintaining it Because oi the the bubble caps Sil, in a fluid-like state and being immediately replaced reducing gas entering the bed from bereduction is rapid and continuous.

by fresh The construction of Il is threaded into the sleeve I8 is threaded onto the plate I1, provides a locking means for tlrmiy securing the same in place. It is to be understood, however. that the sleeve i8 may be formed as a part of the plate i1, if desired, and that the parts may be secured together by any suitable means.

Although the invention has been illustrated in connection with a speciiic furnace, it is to be understood that it is capable of various uses and that the invention is only to be limited in accordance with the scope o! the following claims:

We claim:

1. A bubble cap comprising a central plug having an internal bore extending therethrough, cross channels at the tcp oi! said plug communieating with said bore. a top plate secured to said plug for closing said cross-channels, a sleeve spaced radially from said plug to form an outer chamber, said sleeve being secured to said top plate and extending downwardly therefrom and having a plurality of peripherally spaced discharge openings displaced below said cross channels and out of registration therewith, whereby the gases change in direction in passing from said bore to said cross channels, from said cross channels to said chamber, and from said chamber through said discharge openings.

2. A bubble cap comprising a central plug having an axial bore extending therethrough, cross channels at the top ci said plug communicating with said bore, a tcp plate secured to said plug for closing said cross-channels, a sleeve concentric with said plug and spaced therefrom to toi-in a concentric annular chamber. said sleeve being hearth Ii and the the bubble cap disclosed' secured to said top plate and extending downwardly therefrom and having a plurality ot peripherally spaced discharge openings displaced below said cross channels and out of registration therewith, whereby the gases change in direction in passing from said axial bore to said cross channels. iroin said cross channels to said annular chamber, and from said annular chamber through said discharge openings.

3. In combination with a hearth containing finely-divided material, a plurality or openings in said hearth, bubble caps disposed in registration with each of said openings for supplying gases beneath said material, each of said bubble caps comprising a central plug threaded onto an opening in said hearth and having an inner bore and transverse passages at the upper end ol.' said plus communicating therewith, a top plate secured to said plug in registration with said bore against which the upwardly passing gases impinge. an external sleeve threaded onto said plate and extending downwardiy around said plug into engagement with said hearth to iorm a substantially closed outer chamber in communication with said bore, and a plurality of peripnerally spaced discharge openings in said sleeve adiacent said hearth lor discharging the gases irom said chamber beneath the layer or granular material on said hearth.

4. m combination with a hearth containing finely-divided material, a plurality of openings in said hearth. bubble caps disposed in registration with each or said openings ioi' supplying eases beneath said material, each oi said bubble caps comprising a central plug threaded onto an opening in said hearth and having an internal bore communicating therewith, a top plate secured to said plug in registration with said bore against which the upwardly passing gases impinge, an external sleeve threaded onto said plate and extending cownwaidiy around said plug into engagement with said hearth to rorm a substantially closed outer chamber, transverse passages in said plug connecting Said bore with said chamber ior discharging the gases laterally into said chamber. said sleeve having walls in registration with said transverse passages against which gases implnge and having a plurality oi peripheraliy spaced discharge openings displaced axially from said transverse passages ror discharins Bases 'into the bed of material on said hearth alter the gases have reversed their axial direction of flow in said chamber.

b. A bubble cap comprising a plug having a plate at one end extending laterally beyond the periphery of said plug. transverse passages in said plug adjacent to said plate and a bore extending lengthwise from the other end o1 said plug into communication with said transverse passages, a sleeve secured at one end to said plate and having a plurality oi peripherally spaced discharge openings disposed below said transverse passages and out of registration therewith.

CHARLES F. RAMSEYER. mitm Wina JAHN. 

